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Verve sets ‘Forth’ with new level of pretentiousness

As it turns out, reading the Verve’s biography isn’t so much like reading a biography as it is like reading a philosophy on life. Instead of reading of the band’s beginnings and their instant fame after their hit “Bittersweet Symphony,” which they do touch upon lightly, the reader is given an explanation of what they call “music of the spheres,” and the Verve’s goal of “breaking out of the stratosphere.”

Maybe this has to do with a wounded ego after losing all of the profits from “Bittersweet Symphony” and the irony that it is still the band’s most popular song. As pretentious as the Verve may seem, the band does make a point with their philosophy in their new album Forth.

Forth opens with the single “Sit and Wonder,” which resonates with their usual psychedelic sound that fans love. However, with Richard Ashcroft’s whiny vocals set against similarly whiny guitar playing, the lyrics are lost. Researching the lyrics and reading them yields a completely different experience than just listening to the song, and it’s an experience most miss out on unless they care to put in the time.

Maybe the Verve made a point when they coined the term “music of the spheres.” As a sphere is round, the songs of Forth are cyclical — fairly long and repetitive — in particular “Sit and Wonder,” and “Numbness.”  However, some of their seven-minute songs seem too long and might begin to make the listener, well, numb.

As it turns out, one of the best songs is one of the shortest. “Valium Skies” momentarily leaves the psychedelic sound behind in favor of more poignant lyrics. The result is an entirely personal song that stands out on the album. Lyrics such as “How do you stop this world from loathing/ Still no knocking with all these cards I’m holding” ring out and away from the guitar backdrop, which results in a superior, standout song on the album.

But the Verve is notorious for their guitar work, and nothing shows it off better than “Noise Epic.” Chaotic sounds of clashing guitars manage to work together, while the lyrics act as if to lead the song through the chaos. And with the chanting of “wake up” at the end, the song manages to dissipate like a dream.

Other highlights include “I See Houses,” which recreates the sense of déjà vu in a chilling manner, and “Appalachian Springs,” the concluding song of Forth, offers stunning lyrics that end the CD on a high note.

With such a troubled history, including lawsuits and two breakups, the Verve has a lot to overcome. Additionally, there was the challenge of filling the gap that “Bittersweet Symphony” left behind. Needless to say, it was a steep goal, but the outcome is a good alternative to what’s already on the music scene. While the Verve may be trying to be bigger than itself with their proposed philosophy, Forth is definitely worth a look for its echoing, synthesized music, which is sure to captivate fans of the genre.

3 1/2 stars out of 5